Nick Pocrnic, Ctdp, Dtm Email & Phone Number

Hamilton, On, Ca

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I have found my true passion!After serving in many different capacities for several pension plans, I am able to now utilize so many of my strengths to help CAAT deliver on their mission. The mission is to provide better retirement outcomes for Canadians. My roles here thus far have been to educate employers, members, prospects, and decision makers on the benefits of DBplus, in hopes that they decide to join our Plan. In this role, I am able to rely on the vast experience I have had with defined benefit pension plans to help inform others who may not know about DB plans, or who may have misconceptions about them. I work with an amazing Pension Solutions team who are smart, collaborative, and closely aligned to the goal of making a difference in the lives of Canadian employers and employees.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

In my second go-around, I was asked to take a look at the operations and to suggest improvements that would make the business more efficient. The goal was to decrease costs, improve productivity, and eliminate risk to the organization. Using my extensive background in technologies, I started by optimizing the use of Microsoft 365 using Teams, SharePoint and cloud services. I designed and completed a full data migration to cloud for the organization. I creating workflow automations using Power Automate to create efficiencies and eliminate unnecessary duplications across all areas of the organization.My stay was meant to be temporary as I was still seeking my true passion in work. I was delighted that I could drop in, stay for a while, make a significant impact, and move on. Helping family is always a nice feeling.

Victoria, Bc

My departure from OMERS was a difficult one. Organizational changes prompted a decision to eliminate my position. I was blessed to have some time to reflect on my career achievements to that point, and to plan the next chapter. A good friend and former colleague at Teachers referred me to JEA and discussions began. I was hired to deliver training to clients, introducing them to our software, and/or to upgrades to their existing software. This role allowed me to meet many amazing talented individuals. It also helped me to prepare for the new world of remote work that was thrust upon us all in 2020 when COVID hit the world. Learning to build relationships from afar in the virtual world was a new skill that I learned to foster and perfect.An organization shift caused my role to be converted into a Business Analyst role in an Agile environment. I learned a lot about QA and testing, and working in a very lean reporting structure. I have to admit that I did not like this. I was also slowly shifting to a role that I was not excited about. This happens to many of us. I gave my best effort and worked extremely hard to utilize my talents to help the organization as much as I could. It was a fun ride, but at the end of the day, my true calling was still out there for me to find.

Toronto On

This was one of the most incredible organizations to work for in 2008 under the leadership of a great man - Michael Nobrega. The entire staff was so engaged and we all had fun coming in to work and doing very meaningful work in keeping the Pension Promise for our many members.As I shifted across many roles in Member Services, Pension Services, Human Resources, and finally IT, I learned about the power of a defined benefit pensions and just how strong a benefit it was. It was here that I had the opportunity to get in front of members, retirees, and employers to educate them. I was entrusted to prepare an internal education program for the Member Services staff so that they can be prepared for a new administration system that was being developed for them. I learned to create new relationships within the organization, and to nurture them. And I learned how to mentor, and how to be mentored. Some of my greatest successes here were building that education program, helping to build and manage a corporate Toastmasters program, and helping to educate and prepare the incredible technology that was installed at 100 Adelaide West when we moved there as an organization in 2017. As with my time at Teachers, I had to become a part of the event organizing function here. My best memories were managing the Annual Softball Tournament for three years, and the Annual Golf Tournament over five years. But one of my fondest memories was when I was invited to golf with our CEO in 2008 at a charity golf tournament. We won the tournament, and as a result I was able to travel out west with my family. What an unforgettable experience that was to see Lake Louise, Canmore, and Banff. Wow!

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

It was here that I learned the difference between working in a corporate environment and working at a small family-run business. I learned how to sell. And I learned how to manage people. With no training, I learned to be a pretty good property manager, and I learned how to build a mortgage business. I felt proud to be able to contribute to my brother's empire, and I was committed to doing as much as I could every day. After two years, I was exhausted. My role became a little bit of a monster. The phone rang off the hook every day all the time. Emergencies at properties you manage are urgent and you have to drop and go. I learned that this was not the life for me. So I decided to return to where I felt my strengths were most useful.

5650 Yonge Street, North York, On

Working at Teachers taught me many things. I learned how to work in a corporate office. I learned how to collaborate, communicate, and educate. As a QA Analyst (my first role), I sharpened my math and analytical skills because I was actually counting service for members, and checking the work of an administration system looking for errors. I also learned how to approach colleagues to point out their mistakes - talk about a crash course on providing effective feedback! Once I got a real knack for how pensions work, I was thrust into the role of Corporate Trainer. It was here that I learned so much more. We were asked to learn every single aspect of the company's operations, and to act as the central repository of information for all teams to turn to. We not only trained the staff there, but we also operated a switchboard/hotline. It was really busy too. Our team members rotated shifts on the switchboard while also delivering training to all areas of the organization. In my 10+ years here, I played many different roles - analyst, educator, event organizer, website designer, customer service representative, trainer, and tester. But some of the most rewarding experiences while there were focused on managing multiple large-scale events for the staff. My personal favorite was the Annual Children's Holiday Party. The entire staff was invited with their families. Attendance tipped 600 people at one point. I met a lot of people at all levels of the organization. It was truly special to see the people behind our amazing company with their families. The biggest reward to me was to see the smiles on people's faces at those events.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

This was my first real job. I remember visiting the bank as a child with my Dad for so long. The operation looked so complicated. As the days approached leading up to my first day, I was so stressed that I wouldn't be able to learn it all. It was a mountain that seemed so high. Once I got into the job, I was so nervous. Speaking to strangers coming to my wicket was hard enough. Now I had to talk to them about their money, and I had to ensure I could complete transactions correctly with no mistakes. After six months, my manager took me into her office and explained to me that I wasn't doing very well. But she said that she saw the will in me, and that she knew I could overcome this poor performance rating. She was giving me another chance to make the improvements to keep my job. I felt embarrassed, but I felt empowered to take this situation and turn it into one of my first life-changing moments. After some self-reflection, I decided to make changes in life that would ultimately lead me to find my stride. I lost a ton of weight (40 lbs in fact), I started running and going to the gym to build my inner confidence. My next review with my manager was much different. She was elated at the complete turnaround. I officially passed my probation!The ability to be resilient when faced with the challenge of losing my job and my manager's confidence was a life lesson that I've carried with me. It proved to me that I can do just about anything when I focus and apply myself. Thanks Pat W. You were an incredible manager, and a wonderful mentor.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

In the 10th grade, I decided to try my first high school sport – curling. It was Canada’s national sport, so I thought it might be interesting. I actually got good at it. The local golf and curling club where we practiced was looking for workers to help in the kitchen and the locker rooms. I took a job as a locker boy. I learned a lot. Customer service, time management, respect, and how to clean. I developed some pretty amazing friendships as well at a very important time in my life.

Bachelor Of Commerce, Marketing

Activities and Societies: Entrepreneur Club

Adult Education Certificate, Adult Education

Completed all courses and assignments.